SLTC operating illegally? C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/25/2010

SLTC operating illegally?

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/25/2010 After getting flak for attempting to jump the gun on the thousands of motorists and biyaheros using the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) daily with that whooping 250 percent toll fee increase just days before P-Noy’s inauguration, the RP-Malaysian tollroad operator — South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC) — is in for another round of excoriation. And this time it may be fatal as it involves the very franchise upon which the whole operating agreement is based. Records show that the operator which is owned 80 percent by Malaysian company, MTD Capital, and 20 percent by the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) used the latter’s franchise to legitimatize its takeover of the operation and maintenance of the 27 km Alabang-Calamba portion of the expressway. Apparently, PNCC posited it will be able to renew its franchise for another 50 years thus when the partnership agreement was signed and approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) toward the end of 2007 all the parties thought everything will be fine and dandy. Well, PNCC’s franchise which expired last May 1, 2007 and has not been renewed since. To remedy the situation and save Malacañang from further embarassment, the PNCC Board by Art Aguilar and the TRB jointly requested the Palace to issue a 15 year administrative franchise. ... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100725com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Liquidity problems FRONTLINE Unpresidential Noynoy FEATURE Survivors of Khmer Rouge torture center await justice BLURBAL THRUSTS Litmus test for P-Noy C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S SLTC operating illegally? TABLETS OF STONE Dead in the water VIEWPOINTS The public purse: Empty of cash but full of debts

Dead in the water TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 07/25/2010

Dead in the water

TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 07/25/2010 At first glance, if you are not a media buff who knows camera angular vantages you would think that the visuals provided by the evening TV news depicting frantic people in queues for water supply and the irate clients in near fist fights are the first signs of chaotic Armageddon in the offing, an inevitability this world is about to plunge into. As one environmental advocacy group suggests, the immediate root of a third world war would be water — potable water and not terrorism nor nuclear arsenals. By then the survival of the fittest would the survival of the fastest — whoever runs faster with watertanks tucked on his back or gulps the most to irrigate parched throats. Water wars, of course would not be by violently drowning one’s opponents and enemies, but a la bandit style of marauding and ravaging whatever is left on the wells, pipes and faucets and to protect such great salvaged find with one’s own dear life by snuffing out the life and limbs of threatening predators, as if by extreme beastly humanity. Of course, we have seen these scenarios before in parched dry lands such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and the rest of dry Africa, but not in a tropical and island nation such as the Philippines on a rainy or wet season as today. Tell tale signs but are indeed nightmarish. .... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100725com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Liquidity problems FRONTLINE Unpresidential Noynoy FEATURE Survivors of Khmer Rouge torture center await justice BLURBAL THRUSTS Litmus test for P-Noy C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S SLTC operating illegally? TABLETS OF STONE Dead in the water VIEWPOINTS The public purse: Empty of cash but full of debs

The public purse: Empty of cash but full of debts VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 07/25/2010

The public purse: Empty of cash but full of debts

VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 07/25/2010 One particular sinister expertise of the previous administration was how to spend and disburse public funds with neither care nor remorse — and how to incur public debts without reserve or concern. On the one hand, it nonchalantly made payments to gain and stay in power. It lavishly spent for local non-events and luxurious foreign travels. On the other hand, it borrowed money like a drunk, incurred debts upon debts without any guilt or regret. As its infamous and shameless legacy, it left a public purse that is empty of cash but full of debts. And how! This is exactly why the present administration has no rational option but most probably to do the following — among other consonant agenda: One, extirpate all graft and corrupt practices in government, and apply the full force of the law to their principals and agents. Two, pay special attention to the doings of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the workings of Bureau of Customs, the operation of the Department of Public Works and Highways plus the conduct of all government owned corporations..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100725com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Liquidity problems FRONTLINE Unpresidential Noynoy FEATURE Survivors of Khmer Rouge torture center await justice BLURBAL THRUSTS Litmus test for P-Noy C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S SLTC operating illegally? TABLETS OF STONE Dead in the water VIEWPOINTS The public purse: Empty of cash but full of debts

Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/25/2010

ARROYO OFF TO HK, TO MISS SONA Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/25/2010 Former President Arroyo is expected to absorb collateral damage from President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) tomorrow but the direct hits on now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo will not be intentional since Aquino will be stating the effects of the many irregularities he inherited from the past administration, the Palace said yesterday to describe the outline of Aquino’s first address before members of the joint Congress. Malacañang yesterday implied that it cannot do anything if Arroyo will come out as the villain on the list of what Aquino termed as landmines left by the former administration that will be revealed tomorrow in the Sona during the opening of the 15th Congress. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, emphasized that while Aquino is determined to disclose the so-called anomalies of the previous administration, the overall content of his speech has no intention to directly spite the erstwhile Chief Executive. “We are not thinking about Congresswoman Arroyo because this is just a factual perception against the previous administration. So if she is going to be hit by that, it is only because we are enumerating the problems that we inherited [from her government]. There is no intention to spite or to offend Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo,” Lacierda said.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed1.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo 07/25/2010

5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House

By Charlie V. Manalo and Gerry Baldo 07/25/2010 Five political parties yesterday signed a working coalition agreement creating a “third force” in the administration-led House of Representatives. At the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo, representatives from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and PDP-Laban signed the memorandum announcing that “from now on, the administration’s political party, the Liberal Party (LP), would have to deal with us as a group and not as separate political parties.” “And in so doing, by combining our collective strength, we can play the role of a fiscalizer in the House of Representatives,” Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla of NP said. “While we will be supporting the majority coalition in the House, we will be in the middle. If there is something to criticize, we will criticize. If there is something to commend, we will commend,” San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said. According to Remulla, with the five parties, including the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which failed to send a representative, they would be a force to reckon with in the House as they have around 80 lawmakers under their bloc. With 80 congressmen, the number could figure dominantly in the choice for speakership, much more in the passage of measures in the House.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed2.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed 07/25/2010 The influentia

CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed

07/25/2010 The influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is again exerting pressure on President Aquino to reject sex education and the Reproductive Health bill through a pastoral letter it will issue today and read during the Sunday Mass in all of the country’s churches. The CBCP reminded Aquino that he must adhere to the legacy left by his mother, former President Cory Aquino, who toed the line of the Church on population control during her presidency. This will be among the contents of the pastoral letter of CBCP president Nereo Odchimar Catholic priests will read in today’s Masses. “We reiterate that the Church is not against sex education. But for reasons of morality and religious faith, we strongly object to the proposed sex education program. The program is devoid of any substantive moral and religious value formation,” according to the the pastoral letter given in advance to media. “In matters of character formation and nurturance in moral values, it is the parents who possess the fundamental and natural right and duty, a right acknowledged in the Constitution, a right which government may not take away and arrogate unto itself,” it read.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed3.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam By Gerry Baldo 07/25/2010

Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam

By Gerry Baldo 07/25/2010 Stalwarts of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the House of Representatives smell something fishy in the insistence of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) to abolish the House oversight committee. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said something must be cooking at the ruling party. “They might be planning to hide something (in abolishing the House body),” Lagman told reporters covering the Lakas-Kampi-CMD caucus in Clark Field, Pampanga. Lagman said they could not understand why such an important panel would be abolished amid claims by the LP that transparency would be one of the hallmarks of the Aquino administration. “That was the decision...to abolish,” he said. Lawyer Raul Lambino, who was designated as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD spokesman, shared Lagman’s views. He said the abolition must have something to do with the panel’s investigation into the issue of the SCTex access road to Hacienda Luisita. The House oversight committee then headed by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez has investigated the allegations that Hacienda Luisita, owned by the Aquinos and Cojuangcos, unduly benefitted from the construction of the access road which was funded by the Philippine government..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed4.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ 07/25/2010

Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’

07/25/2010 SEOUL — North Korea has threatened a “powerful nuclear deterrence” in response to joint US-South Korean naval exercises as tensions escalate over the sinking of one of Seoul’s warships in March. North Korea was prepared for a “retaliatory sacred war,” the powerful National Defense Commission (NDC) headed by leader Kim Jong-Il yesterday said in a statement carried by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The United States and South Korea have announced joint naval exercises, beginning on Sunday, in what they have described as a bid to deter North Korea’s “aggressive” behavior. “All these war maneuvers are nothing but outright provocations aimed to stifle the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) by force of arms to all intents and purposes,” the NDC said. “The army and people of the DPRK will legitimately counter with their powerful nuclear deterrence the largest-ever nuclear war exercises to be staged by the US and the South Korean puppet forces.”... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed5.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

Three major quakes rattle Mindanao 07/25/2010

Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

07/25/2010 Three major quakes measuring between magnitude 7.3 and 7.6 hit the southern Philippines early yesterday, seismologists said, but there were no reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued. The underwater quakes struck at a depth of between 575 and 605 kilometers, just over 100 kilometers southwest of Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no destructive tsunami was generated by the 7.3-, 7.6- and 7.4-magnitude quakes, the first of which hit at 6:08 a.m.  “It was kind of mild,” said Monisa Tulawie, a staff member at the Cotabato city mayor’s office, who said she felt one of the quakes. Other residents contacted by phone were unaware of what had happened, saying they had not been woken by the tremors. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said it has not monitored any damage incurred from the earthquake that rocked a big portion of the country Saturday morning. “There is no damage. Although it’s 6.1 magnitude, there are no reported damages in the Cotabato City areas,” said NDCC Executive Officer and concurrent Office of Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100725hed6.html

HEADLINES Bombshells hitting Gloria not intended, says Palace 5 pol parties merge, to play ‘fiscalizer’ role in House CBCP applies pressure anew on contraceptives, sex ed Lakas: Bid to dissolve House body linked to SCTex scam Nokor threatens nuclear ‘sacred war’ Three major quakes rattle Mindanao

Truth will out, too EDITORIAL 07/24/2010

Truth will out, too

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 07/24/2010 It really was time to have Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners and their officials, as well as Smartmatic-TIM officials criminally charged because for too long, they have engaged in criminal actions and have gotten away with it. The worst part of it all is the fact that every step of the way, the public warnings were made yet none of these commissioners paid heed to these warnings and kept on claiming that security features were in place; that the source code was reviewed and okayed by SysTest Lab; that there will no longer be electoral cheating; that they are on top of the situation, and will be conducting the polls without a hitch. All that time, they were lying to the Filipino people and worse, kept the people in the dark, even when they knew they would once again, rob the Filipino people of their sovereign will. The Philippine Computer Society (PCS), in a complaint lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, named as respondents Comelec Chairman Jose Melo, Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal, Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph. Also named was Executive Director Jose Tolentino and directors Ester Roxas and James Jimenez. The Technical Evaluation members were also charged. Cited were Commission on Information and Communication Technology chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua, Timothy Diaz de Rivera and Dennis Villorente..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

All for publicity FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/24/2010

All for publicity

FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/24/2010 All that media attention in filing an impeachment complaint against the Ombudsman, or for that matter, the poll officials, is all just another opportunity for the complainants to get publicity, mainly because they know nothing but nothing is going to come out of it. When these so-called leftist party-list representatives come up with a complaint against a constitutional official, they don’t even know just how many congressmen they can tap to support their bid, which naturally, would have to result in the complaint dying a natural death. What happens next is that for yet another year, the constitutional officers, whether president, vice president, Supreme Court justices, Ombudsman, Comelec commissioners and all others falling under the category of impeachable officers, get immunized from being impeached, when a complaint is filed against any of them. Why bother then to come up with an impeachment complaint, even when such complaint is endorsed by one congressman, when the end result will be that of the complaint being dismissed? Ah, but there is always that publicity factor for the complainants, because these impeachment complaints will have to be accepted, along with the House rules that the Speaker will have to forward the complaint to the justice committee, which will either sit on it or have the justice panel decide whether the complaint passes the form and substance test.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com2.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum focus 07/24/2010

Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

focus 07/24/2010 HANOI — Strained US-China military relations will be the elephant in the room as Asia’s largest security forum meets in Vietnam on Friday amid tensions over North Korea, Taiwan and the South China Sea. A US-South Korea naval drill in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) next week is exacerbating tensions ahead of the Hanoi meet, to be attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Analysts said the 27-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum was unlikely to bring about a thaw in bilateral military ties, which Beijing froze in January over US weapons sales to Taiwan. “It’s the worst it’s been in a long time. US-Sino relations are not in a good place right now,” said Ian Storey, a fellow of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Particularly significant is that the two militaries aren’t talking and there are a lot of issues that they have to discuss.” China suspended military relations in January after Washington unveiled a $6.4-billion arms package for Taiwan. In May, China rebuffed a planned visit to Beijing by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. US and South Korean plans to hold a series of naval drills from Sunday in response to North Korea’s alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship in March are the latest source of bad blood between Beijing and Washington..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100724com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Truth will out, too FRONTLINE All for publicity focus Strained US-Sino ties loom at Asia security forum

Abu Sayyaf, U.S. Imperialism & the Bangsamoro Revolution in the Philippines

Abu Sayyaf, U.S. Imperialism & the Bangsamoro Revolution in the Philippines
Abu Sayyaf, Trojan Horse of U.S. Imperialism:

Marginal Comments on the Bangsamoro Struggle for Sovereignty
by E. SAN JUAN, Jr.

[The 1789 Reign of Terror] is the rule of people who themselves are terror-stricken. Terror implies mostly useless cruelties perpetrated by frightened people in order to reassure themselves.

—Friedrich Engels, letter to March, 4 Sept. 1870 (Marx and Engels 1965)

Beginning January 2002, hundreds of U.S. Special Operations Forces have been stationed in the Southern Philippines as part of the US “global war against terror” after 9/11. This deployment was called “Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines,”  part of the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. In October 2004, then President Bush singled out the Philippines as one front (the other two are Iraq and Afghanistan) in the US attempt to assert its hegemony in the Middle East, Asia, and throughout the world (Docena 2008). A direct U.S. colony for about half a century, the Philippines remains a neocolonial formation, with a client collaborative regime (Petras 2007) subordinate to U.S. interests. This singular status of clientship or subordination is erased in current historiography. Consequently, the fallacy of treating the US and the Philippines as equal partners in inter-state relations results in gross misjudgments and absurd expectations.
.... MORE

Source:  The Philippine Matrix Project

URL: http://philcsc.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/abu-sayyaf-u-s-imperialism-the-bangsamoro-revolution-in-the-philippines/

Two Women Political Prisoners During Martial Law Join Calls for Release of Two Pregnant Women of the Morong 43 Published on July 24, 2010

Two Women Political Prisoners During Martial Law Join Calls for Release of Two Pregnant Women of the Morong 43

Published on July 24, 2010

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Professor Judy Taguiwalo of the University of the Philippines made an urgent appeal through Facebook on behalf of two women political detainees, from among the Morong 43, who are pregnant but still languishing in jail at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan.

“As a former detainee during the Marcos years, I was aghast by their experience during the early days of their captivity. We join the call to have the two pregnant women political detainees released immediately for humanitarian reasons. This was done during the martial law years and I cannot see any reason why this cannot be done by the present government,” Taguiwalo said in her note posted at the social networking site.

Carina Oliveros, 27 would be giving birth to her first child any time soon. Mercy Castro, 26, would give birth to her second child in October. Both women are health workers from Central Luzon who were among those arrested in while conducting a health training in a farm house in Morong, Rizal on February 6.... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/two-women-political-prisoners-during-martial-law-join-calls-for-release-of-two-pregnant-women-of-the-morong-43/

NPAs Unfazed by Soldier Imports from Luzon Published on July 24, 2010

NPAs Unfazed by Soldier Imports from Luzon

Published on July 24, 2010

By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today 

Posted by: Bulatlat.com

MACO, COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Communist guerillas who captured and released three soldiers and a militiaman in Compostela Valley in June scoffed at the deployment of more government troops from Luzon.
Anvil Guinto, spokesman of the NPA’s Crucifino Uballas Command, called the arriving soldiers “blind” because they do not have any knowledge of the area where the NPAs freely move.

“They are not from here,” he said. “They are blind. All they can expect are more tactical offensives, more punitive actions and more strike operations from us,” Guinto said during the release of three soldiers and a militiaman who the NPAs held captive for 34 days.

He said the NPAs are not worried at all about the “hyped” entry of two more battalion of government troops from Luzon, especially those coming from the former unit of retired General Jovito Palparan Jr.... MORE
Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/npas-unfazed-by-soldier-imports-from-luzon-2/

‘Stop E-Passport Fees Increase, Probe Anomalous Contract’ – Migrante Published on July 24, 2010

‘Stop E-Passport Fees Increase, Probe Anomalous Contract’ – Migrante

Published on July 24, 2010

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — The largest OFW group urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to stop the increase of the e-passport fees in the light of allegations of corruption in the procurement contract by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“We thought that there would no longer be any corruption,” Migrante Internatonal said in a statement.
The e-passport now cost P1,200 (or $25.78 based on the current exchange rate of $US 1=P46.54)from P950 ($20.41) and P750 ($16.12) from P550 ($11.82), for ten-working day orders and 20-working day orders, respectively. It would also cost Filipinos in Hongkong, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, in the Middle East and some parts of Europe thrice the price rates compared to Manila.

These e-passports would contain a chipset for added security, as compliance with the 2010 deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organization standards for travel..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/07/24/%E2%80%98stop-e-passport-fees-increase-probe-anomalous-contract%E2%80%99-migrante/

Sona to shock nation—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/24/2010

Another shocker: Aquino’s budget P1.7 trillion, up by P200 billion Sona to shock nation—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/24/2010 Newly minted President Aquino promises to give the nation a “shock” through his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, with the “exposes” he will be making on the anomalies committed by the Arroyo administration. What could also shock the nation is the fact that Aquino will reportedly present to Congress an even bigger national budget, despite the gargantuan budget deficit the country is faced with, estimated at P1.7 trillion for 2011. Aquino told reporters there are at least a minimum of five exposes that he will cover in the Sona.  “You will be very, very shocked at the things we have discovered. The common reaction was, to those who already know, was ‘What? This was done by them (former President Arroyo and her administration)? How could they have done that?’ “There was absolutely no rhyme or reason (to those budget decisions), but we will have to be the one to address that,” Aquino said, refusing to elaborate on the details, saying he would then be divulging the contents of his Sona, and as a consequence, nobody will go to hear his Sona.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed1.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal 07/24/2010

Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal

07/24/2010 Newly minted President Aquino promises to give the nation a “shock” through his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, with the “exposes” he will be making on the anomalies committed by the Arroyo administration. What could also shock the nation is the fact that Aquino will reportedly present to Congress an even bigger national budget, despite the gargantuan budget deficit the country is faced with, estimated at P1.7 trillion for 2011. Aquino told reporters there are at least a minimum of five exposes that he will cover in the Sona.  “You will be very, very shocked at the things we have discovered. The common reaction was, to those who already know, was ‘What? This was done by them (former President Arroyo and her administration)? How could they have done that?’ “There was absolutely no rhyme or reason (to those budget decisions), but we will have to be the one to address that,” Aquino said, refusing to elaborate on the details, saying he would then be divulging the contents of his Sona, and as a consequence, nobody will go to hear his Sona. The last time Aquino told reporters, during the campaign period, that the nation will be “shocked and awed” by a defection of an Arroyo political stalwart to his camp, came off as a dud, as it was quickly found out that the “defector” was Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who is not particularly known for his party loyalty. The general consensus was that people were neither shocked nor awed after it was reported that it was just Salceda. It is generally known that Aquino’s Sona will be focusing on the alleged anomalies committed by the Arroyo government and lay all blame on the problems facing the country on the Arroyo administration.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed2.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales 07/24/2010

Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales

07/24/2010 Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella (NPC, Camarines Sur, 4th District) yesterday filed House Bill 1625 calling for the legislation of an act removing the sale of electricity power from the coverage of the expanded value added tax (eVAT) law by amending certain provisions of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code as amended by Republic Act 9337, and for other purposes. In his explanatory note, Fuentebella noted that “the cost of electricity in the Philippines is known to be one of the highest in Asia and his bill proposes to mitigate the impact of high electricity prices by removing the sale of electric power from the ambit of the eVAT. RA 9337, also known as the eVAT Law, amended Section 108 of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) by including “sales of electricity by generation companies, transmission, and distribution companies” as part of the definition of “sale of exchange of services” subject to VAT. Said Act also imposed VAT on fuel and oil products used in the production and generation of electricity. and generation of electricity. Prior to RA 9337, Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9136 (the Epira law) was enacted, with the objective being, among others, to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power;) to ensure transparent and reasonable prices of electricity in a regime of free and fair competition and full accountability to achieve greater operational and economic efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine products in the global market; and to enhance the inflow of private capital and broaden the ownership of base of the power generation, transmission and distribution sectors..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed3.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 07/24/2010

Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate

07/24/2010 Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has expressed alarm over the reported “meddling” of religious sectors in the fight for the Senate presidency, noting the apparent violation being committed by the religious groups on the principle of the separation of powers of Church and State. “That would be an unfortunate situation and I do not know if that is a fact. If that is so, it violates the separation of Church and State. And I would suggest that the members of the Senate who are involved should discourage this because it transgresses the basic principle of our democratic government which is the separation of Church and State. Imagine if the head of the Senate would be installed through the effort of a religious house. I think it should not be affected by the people,” he said. The issue of ensuring checks and balances is not the function of a religious body, Enrile stressed.  “We are conscious of the fact that we are responsible elected senators of the republic. We should be responsible not only for other departments of government. We must be independent from all pressures,” he added. “I am not saying that this is true. I am stating a basic principle of government. What does this mean if there’s a vested group who will decide for the head of government? They’re not even elected by the people. I will stand against that. They’re my friends but I will not allow this to happen. It’s the independence of the institution that will be ruined. institution that will be ruined..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed4.htm

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

1-Utak dumps Reyes By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010

1-Utak dumps Reyes

By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010 Party-list group 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) yesterday filed a petition asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to replace former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes as its first nominee. In its urgent petition and manifestation, 1-Utak said the “delay” in the final resolution of the disqualification case against Reyes has created “anxiety” among its members who were eager to see them represented in the House of Representatives. “There seems to be no clear indication as to when the disqualification case can finally be resolved as a motion for reconsideration was filed questioning the Comelec’s earlier decision dismissing the petition for disqualification,” the three-page petition noted. “The 1-Utak Executive Committee has passed a resolution withdrawing the nomination of its first nominee, Angelo T. Reyes,” the petition added. Reyes will be replaced by Homer Mercado after its second nominee, lawyer Vigor Mendoza II, declined the position. But Mercado would not be able to sit yet as the group’s representative when Congress opens on Monday, according to the Comelec. “This has to be studied by our Law Department and then they’ll make a recommendation to the en banc,” Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal told reporters in an interview.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed5.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010

Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire

By Marie Surbano 07/24/2010 A Filipino died of suffocation when a tourist bus with 63 other Filipinos on board caught fire between the towns of Varazze and Celle Ligure in Italy last July 18, a consulate report said. The Philippine Consulate-General in Milan identified the victim as Procopio de la Cruz, a permanent resident in Italy. Initial investigation showed the accident was caused by an electric short circuit. Another Filipina, Billy Jane Sabio, was airlifted to a hospital in Genova due to her injuries. The Consulate General said her condition has already stabilized.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100724hed6.html

HEADLINES Sona to shock nation—Noy Migrante pushes probe on Romulo over ‘tainted’ e-passport deal Fuentebella files bill on eVAT removal on power sales Enrile warns of religious groups ‘meddling’ in Senate 1-Utak dumps Reyes Pinoy dies of suffocation in Italy tourist bus fire